Screwless Sash Lock for Metal and Plastic Window Sashes and the Like

A sash lock, said sash lock configured for screwless installation of a portion thereof into coordinated openings in a meeting rail of a sash window, with releasable securement using a recess in an underside of a top wall of the meeting rail, and with removal therefrom using an orifice in the meeting rail top wall positioned at the recess, said sash lock comprising:

• a housing, said housing comprising:
• a housing wall having a first end and a second end, said housing wall configured to terminate on a generally flat bottom surface to form a cavity, said housing wall comprising:
• an orifice into said cavity, and an opening into said cavity;
• a first leg configured to extend beyond said bottom surface of said housing wall;
• a second leg configured to extend beyond said bottom surface of said housing wall, said first and second legs configured to sequentially enter the coordinated openings of the sash window meeting rail and to be engaged therein through sliding contact, by said second leg configured to be oriented substantially the same as said first leg, where a foot of said second leg extends in the same direction as a foot of said first leg;
• and
• wherein said foot of said first leg comprises a locking tab configured to extend from a top surface thereof, a portion of the way to said housing bottom surface, said locking tab configured to be received in the recess in the underside of the meeting rail top wall, to releasably secure the lock to the meeting rail;
• a shaft rotatably received within said orifice in said housing wall;
• and
• a cam fixedly secured to a portion of said shaft within said cavity, to be pivotable between a retracted position, and an extended position where at least a portion of said cam protrudes out from said opening in said housing wall.

A sash lock, said sash lock configured for screwless installation of a portion thereof into coordinated openings in a meeting rail of a sash window, with securement to a recess in an underside of a top wall of the meeting rail, and with release therefrom for removal of the sash lock using an orifice in the meeting rail top wall positioned at the recess, said sash lock comprising:

• a housing comprising:
• a wall having a first end and a second end, said wall configured to terminate on a generally flat bottom surface to form a cavity, said wall comprising:
• an orifice into said cavity, and an opening into said cavity;
• a first leg configured to extend beyond said bottom surface of said wall;
• a second leg configured to extend beyond said bottom surface of said wall, said first and second legs configured to enter the coordinated openings of the sash window meeting rail and to be engaged therein through sliding contact, by a foot of said second leg configured to extend in the same direction as a foot of said first leg;
• and
• wherein said foot of said first leg comprises a locking tab configured to extend from a top surface thereof, a portion of the way to said bottom surface, said locking tab configured to be received in the recess in the underside of the meeting rail top wall, to releasably secure said sash lock to the meeting rail;
• a shaft rotatably received within said orifice in said housing wall;
• and
• a cam positioned within said cavity and fixedly secured to a portion of said shaft, to be pivotable between a retracted position, and an extended position where at least a portion of said cam protrudes out from said opening in said housing wall.